Teen accused of setting four small fires

Published On: Jan 25 2013 01:36:59 PM EST

PALM COAST, Fla. -

A 15-year-old Palm Coast boy kept the Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Sheriff's deputies busy Thursday evening after deputies said the teen set four small fires in a residential area of the city.

Deputies received the first call around 7:24 p.m. in the area of Webster Lane. Firefighters extinguished a small fire in the yard of the home. While on that scene, firefighters were dispatched to two other small fires in the immediate area.

About four hours later, another small fire was reported in the area of Wellington Drive. At that time, and based on the number of fires reported, the Safe Neighborhood Unit was mobilized to respond to the area.

Around 12:46 a.m., deputies located the teen, Aatif Mims, in the proximity of the fires. They said the teen smelled of smoke and was in possession of a lighter.

After questioning by deputies, the teen was charged with a third-degree felony of intentional burning, as well as loitering and prowling, and violation of probation.

"This teenager put the lives and property of people in this neighborhood in jeopardy," Flagler County Sheriff James Manfre said in a news release. "We are fortunate these fires were extinguished quickly and that we were able to make this arrest."

The teen was booked into the Flagler County Detention Facility and then transferred to the Division of Youth Services in Daytona Beach.

Copyright 2013 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.